User interface device, such as a mouse or trackball, with a high-dimension joystick providing at least three independently adjustable parameters

ABSTRACT

A user interface device having a housing and a joystick with at least three independent mechanical adjustments, each generating an associated signal responsive to the mechanical adjustment, and at least one sensor arrangement generating signals to control at least a cursor on an external device is described. Signals from the sensor arrangements and the joystick can be multiplexed together for transmission to the external device. In an implementation, the sensor arrangements generate signals responsive to changes in the position of the housing with respect to a surface on which the user interface device is placed. In another implementation, the user interface device includes a trackball, and at least one additional sensor arrangement generating signals responsive to the operation of the trackball.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No 12/618698filed on Nov. 14, 2009, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.No. 10/779,368 filed on Feb. 13, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,620,915issued on Nov. 17, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to user interface devices for use with acomputer, and in particular to computer mice, trackballs, touchpads,multiple-parameter pointing and data entry devices, and user interfacemetaphors.

2. Description of the Related Art

User interface devices for data entry and graphical user interfacepointing have been known for many years. The most common devices includethe computer mouse (usually attributed to English, Engelbart, and Bennan“Display-Selection Techniques for Text Manipulation, IEEE Transactionson Human Factors in Electronics, pp. 5-15, vol. HFE-8, No. 1, March1967), the trackball, the touchpad in both finger-operated (for example,the various finger-operated devices produced by Symantec Corp., ofSpringfield, Oreg.) and stylus-operated (for example, products used withdesktop workstation computers by Wacom Technology Corp., of Vancouver,Wash.) versions, and display-overlay touchscreens. Other historical andexotic devices include various types of light pens and the Data Glove™(produced by VPL Research, Inc., of Redwood City, Calif.).

Most user interface devices for data entry and graphical user interfacepointing commonly used with computers or with equipment providingcomputer-like user interfaces have two wide-range parameter adjustmentcapabilities that are usually assigned to the task of positioning ascreen cursor within a two-dimensional display. In many cases, one, two,or three binary-valued “discrete-event” controls are provided, typicallyin the form of spring-loaded push-buttons.

More recently, computer mice have emerged that provide an additional“scroll” finger-wheel adjustment (for example, between two controlbuttons) to provide a third wide-range parameter adjustment capability(for example, various products developed by Logitech Inc., of Fremont,Calif.). A mouse of this configuration is often referred to as a “ScrollMouse” since this third wide-range parameter is typically assigned thetask of positioning a vertical scroll bar in an actively selectedwindow. This additional finger-wheel adjustment may also operate as aspring-loaded push-button, thus providing an additional binary-valued“discrete-event” control. Typically this additional binary-valued“discrete-event” control is used to turn on and off an automaticscrolling feature which controls the rate and direction of automaticscrolling according to vertical displacement of the displayed cursor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, two independentlyadjustable and positionable cursors are employed in a visual interfacefor editing an electronic document. The document may comprise textsymbols, text objects, and graphics objects, among others. If bothcursors are located in close proximity within the document, then thesecursors may be simultaneously displayed in a single window. Otherwise,two areas of the document, each comprising one of the cursors, may besimultaneously displayed using a separate window for each cursor, oralternately selected and displayed in a single window. Copy or cutoperations may be made with one cursor, while paste operations may berepeated using the second cursor. Cursor locations may be leftunchanged, or they may be moved between or within editing operations.The two cursors may be freely controlled by an enhanced pointing device,such as a mouse with an added touchpad or trackball, or sequentiallyselected and controlled by a conventional mouse.

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, a traditionalhand-movable computer mouse is configured with an additional userinterface sensor. For convenience, the term “user interface sensor” willbe used herein to collectively refer to devices such as trackballs,touchpads, mouse devices, scroll-wheels, joysticks, and other suchdevices.

In one aspect of the invention, the addition of a user interface sensorprovides alternative physical modalities for the same pair of adjustableparameters so that a user may switch between using the user interfacedevice as a traditional hand-movable computer mouse and using the userinterface device as a trackball or touchpad.

In another aspect of the invention, the addition of a user interfacesensor provides alternative resolution modalities for the same pair ofadjustable parameters so that a user may switch between using theinvention as a traditional hand-movable computer mouse to obtain onelevel of parameter adjustment resolution, and using the invention as atrackball or touchpad, for example, to obtain a different level ofparameter adjustment resolution.

In another aspect of the invention, the addition of a user interfacesensor provides alternative types of warping modalities for the samepair of adjustable parameters so that a user may switch between usingthe invention as a traditional hand-movable computer mouse to obtain onetype of parameter adjustment (for example, linear) and using theinvention as a trackball or touchpad, for example, to obtain a differenttype of parameter adjustment (for example, logarithmic, gamma-corrected,arccosine, exponential, etc.).

In another aspect of the invention, the addition of a user interfacesensor provides alternative offset modalities for the same pair ofadjustable parameters so that a user may switch between using theinvention as a traditional hand-movable computer mouse to obtain onetype of centering of parameter adjustment and using the invention as atrackball or touchpad, for example, to obtain a different centering ofparameter adjustment.

In another aspect of the invention, the addition of a user interfacesensor may be used to provide additional parameters that may besimultaneously controlled.

In another aspect of the invention, the addition of a user interfacesensor may be used to provide additional parameters that are of adifferent isolated context from those assigned to a traditionalhand-movable computer mouse.

In a further more detailed aspect of the invention, the addition of atouchpad may be used to provide many additional parameters that are of adifferent context than those of a traditional hand-movable computermouse.

In a further more detailed aspect of the invention, the touchpad may bea null-contact touchpad adapted to measure at least one maximum spatialspan of contact in a given direction.

In a yet further detailed aspect of the invention, the null-contacttouchpad is adapted to measure at least one maximum spatial span ofcontact in a given direction at a specifiable angle.

In an additional further detailed aspect of the invention, thenull-contact touchpad is adapted to measure pressure applied to thenull-contact touchpad.

In a further more detailed aspect of the invention, the touchpad maycomprise a pressure sensor array touchpad adapted to measure, amongother things, one or more of the following: the rocking position of acontacting finger in a given direction; the rotational position of acontacting finger; the pressure of a contacting finger; and parametersrelating to a plurality of contacting fingers.

In another aspect of the invention the addition of a user interfacesensor may be realized via a replaceable module accepted by anadaptation of a traditional hand-movable computer mouse. In thisimplementation, a user may initially obtain the invention in oneconfiguration and field-modify it to another configuration.

In another aspect of the invention, a traditional hand-movable computermouse may be implemented as a removable module in a laptop computer orother affiliated equipment, and may include a wireless link with thelaptop computer or other affiliated equipment.

In yet a further aspect of the invention, a traditional hand-movablecomputer mouse is implemented as a removable module in a laptop computeror other affiliated equipment, and the mouse further comprises a userinterface sensor.

In another aspect of the invention, a traditional hand-movable computermouse additionally comprises a trackball or touchpad, for example. Inthis aspect, the mouse comprises a wireless link to an associatedcomputer or other affiliated equipment.

In another aspect of the invention, a visual display is provided.

In another aspect of the invention, an auditory output is provided.

In another aspect of the invention, two or more individual userinterface sensors may be combined without incorporation of such sensorswith a traditional hand-movable computer mouse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent upon consideration of the followingdescription of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing figures, wherein:

FIGS. 1 a-1 i illustrate various exemplary implementations involvingmerging, selecting, multiplexing, and preprocessing distributed invarious ways between the body of the user interface device and anassociated piece of equipment;

FIGS. 2 a-2 c depict an embodiment of the invention comprising atraditional mouse fitted with a trackball, illustrating three exemplarybutton configurations;

FIGS. 3 a-3 c depict an embodiment of the invention comprising atraditional mouse fitted with a touchpad, illustrating three exemplarybutton configurations;

FIGS. 4 a-4 d depict various exemplary degrees of freedom that may bemeasurably assigned to a trackball for interactively controllingparameters in a user interface;

FIGS. 5 a-5 d depict various exemplary degrees of freedom that may bemeasurably assigned to a touchpad for interactively controllingparameters in a user interface;

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary implementation of the invention directedtowards the control of both a traditional text cursor and adual-scrollbar in a typesetting application;

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary implementation of the invention directedtowards the active selection from a clip-art or symbol library andadjustment of positioning or other attributes of the active selection ina drawing or layout application;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing exemplary operations and overhead involvedin selecting and adjusting a specific pair of parameters from among alarger group of adjustable parameters;

FIGS. 9 a-9 b illustrate how the exemplary operations and overheaddepicted in FIG. 8 introduce excessive overhead in situations where manyparameters with a larger group of adjustable parameters must be adjustedin pairs;

FIGS. 10 a-10 b illustrate one technique for adding an additionalscroll-wheel to a conventional scroll-wheel mouse;

FIGS. 11 a-11 b illustrate a simple example of open adjustments beingmade within various levels of hierarchy of graphical object groupings;

FIG. 12 illustrates aspects of the 3D orientation of an object in3-dimensional space, and in particular the three coordinates of positionand the three angles of rotation;

FIGS. 13 a-13 b illustrate one technique for using two cursors in a textcut-and-paste operation; and

FIGS. 14 a-14 d illustrate exemplary embodiments of a mouse where thetraditional mouse buttons have been replaced by trackballs or touchpads.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawing figures which form a part hereof, and which show by way ofillustration specific embodiments of the invention. It is to beunderstood by those of ordinary skill in this technological field thatother embodiments may be utilized, and structural, electrical, as wellas procedural changes may be made without departing from the scope ofthe present invention.

By way of overview, a number of different applications that takeadvantage of the functionality of additional, wide-range adjustmentparameters will now be discussed. In one example, an additionalfinger-wheel adjustment device providing a third, wide-range parameteradjustment capability is typically assigned to vertical scroll barpositioning. In accordance with the invention, such a design may besupplemented with a fourth, wide-range parameter adjustment capabilityso that a horizontal scroll bar position control may be achieved. Withthe increasing popularity of the web (with many web pages wide enough torequire horizontal scrolling) and publisher layout tools (typicallyinvolving pages wide enough to require horizontal scrolling), as well asthe need for simultaneous interactive horizontal and vertical scrollingactions that do not disturb a screen cursor location when using “zoom”controls, a fourth wide-range parameter adjustment capability intraditional user interface devices for data entry and graphical userinterface pointing is quite valuable.

There are many other potential uses for additional wide-range adjustmentparameters in traditional user interface devices for data entry andgraphical user interface pointing. Some opportunities have wide-rangeapplicability, such as in providing interactive separate adjustment ofthe selections for “cut” or “copy” operations from the interactiveadjustment of insertion location or selection for a “paste” operation.Other opportunities are more specialized but still widely applicable,such as making an active selection fiom a clip-art or symbol library andadjusting the position or other attributes of said active selection in adrawing or layout application. Yet other opportunities may be veryspecialized, such as in 3D modeling, data visualization, advanced coloradjustment, lighting control, machine control, or audio and image signalprocessing.

There are many opportunities for adjusting the same two widely-varyingparameters in more than one way. For example, one user interfacemodality (such as normal mouse operation) may be used for normalparameter adjustment, while a second user interface modality may be usedfor adjustments involving a different resolution, warping (i.e.,logarithmic, gamma-corrected, arccosine, exponential, etc.), centeringoffset, etc. Another important case is where the same two widely-varyingparameters are controlled with the same resolution, warping, offset,etc., but in a different user interface modality (e.g., a trackball ortouchpad may have some advantages in certain situations over use of atraditional mouse). A more widely applicable example is that ofresponding to and preventing handlwrist/arm fatigue and injury. Atraditional mouse fitted with an additional user interface sensor allowsa user to interchangeably enter information with either the mouse bodyor another user interface sensor, changing which user interface modalityis used (obtaining the same results with either) to relieve fatigue orpain, or prevent injury.

More specifically, the addition of a user interface sensor provides manyopportunities for alternative means of adjustment of a common pair ofadjustable parameters. The user may benefit from having both adjustmentmodalities available, changing modalities as needed or desired. Forexample:

-   -   A user may simply switch between using the invention as a        traditional hand-movable computer mouse and using the invention        as another kind of user interface sensor.    -   The user may benefit from having both modalities available to        avoid or in response to hand fatigue.    -   The user may also benefit from having both modalities available        due to the type of pointing or data entry interaction        needed—depending on the case, one type of modality may perform        better than another.    -   The trackball, touchpad, or other user interface sensor        apparatus may be used to provide alternative resolution        modalities so that a user may switch between using the invention        as a traditional hand-movable computer mouse to obtain one level        of parameter adjustment resolution and using the invention as a        user interface sensor to obtain a different level of parameter        adjustment resolution.    -   The trackball or touchpad may be used to provide alternative        warping modalities for the same pair of adjustable parameters so        that a user may switch between using the invention as a        traditional hand-movable computer mouse to obtain one type of        parameter adjustment (for example, linear) and using the        invention as another kind of user interface sensor to obtain a        different type of parameter adjustment resolution (for example,        logarithmic, gamma-corrected, arccosine, exponential, etc.).    -   The user interface sensor may be used to provide alternative        offset modalities for a common pair of adjustable parameters so        that a user may switch between using the invention as a        traditional hand-movable computer mouse to obtain one centering        of parameter adjustment and using the invention as another kind        of user interface sensor to obtain a different centering of        parameter adjustment. These modalities can provide one or more        “location bookmarks” for cursor location, each affiliated with a        sub-context within an interactive application.

Further, the addition of another user interface sensor provides manyopportunities for the simultaneous adjustment of additional parametersthat may or may not require simultaneous interactive control. Thetraditional computer mouse may be used to simultaneously adjust twoparameters while the additional user interface sensor may be configuredto allow the fingers to simultaneously adjust at least two additionalparameters. In some applications, these additional parameters may beclosely related to those assigned to the traditional computer mouse. Forexample, the traditional computer mouse may be used to simultaneouslyadjust the location within a window of a text, graphic, or other object,while the additional user interface sensor allows the fingers to be usedto adjust the type or attributes of the text, graphic, or other object.In other applications, these additional parameters may be of a differentisolated context from those assigned to the traditional computer mouse.For example, the traditional computer mouse may be used tosimultaneously adjust two parameters dealing with affairs within anactive application window, while the addition of another user interfacesensor allows the fingers to be used to adjust at least two additionalparameters dealing with broader window system affairs such as verticaland horizontal scrollbars, window selection, window resizing, etc., orintermediate-level affairs such as zoom control, help-window navigation,clip-art selection, etc. Another application would be to provideseparate adjustment of selections for “cut” or “copy” operations fromthe adjustment of insertion location or selection for a “paste”operation.

In instances of the invention involving the addition of a touchpad, thetouchpad may be configured and/or enhanced to allow the fingers toadjust three or more additional interactive measured parameters. Theseadditional interactive measured parameters may be assigned to controlmore sophisticated interactive affairs such as 3-dimensional spaceposition, 3-dimensional space orientation, color model navigation, imageor audio processing parameter settings, etc.

The additional interactive measured parameters (above the two typicallyassociated with traditional touchpads) may be provided in a number ofways. For example, the touchpad may be a relatively low-costnull-contact touchpad that has been adapted to measure at least onemaximum spatial span of contact in a given direction. The user may alsocontrol an additional parameter by varying the width between the spatialextremes of a single point of contact (i.e., how much finger flesh makescontact with the pad) or multiple points of contact (i.e., the spreadbetween two contacting fingers). As there are two geometricallyorthogonal sensing directions on a touchpad, this provides the user witha method for controlling four total parameters from a touchpad. Further,rotational transformations or other methodologies may be used to measurethe angle of rotation of an oblong contact profile. The measured anglemay be used as a fifth interactive parameter, and/or used to adapt themeasurement of maximum spatial span of contact in an arbitrary angle.The null-contact touchpad may be further adapted to measure pressureapplied to the null-contact touchpad via, for example, use of anattached pressure sensor. The pressure may be used as a sixthinteractive parameter, and may or may not have rapid pressure changesrecognized as ‘tap’ or ‘click’ events.

Another way to provide the additional interactive measured parameters(above the two typically associated with traditional touchpads) with atouchpad is to implement the touchpad with a pressure sensor array.Through use of operations effectively amounting to image processing, apressure sensor array touchpad can be adapted to measure the rockingposition of a contacting finger in two orthogonal directions, as well asthe rotational position and average pressure of a contacting finger.Thus a pressure sensor array touchpad can be adapted to provide up tosix widely variable interactive adjustable parameters from the contactof a single finger. A pressure sensor array touchpad can be furtheradapted to measure parameters relating to a plurality of contactingfingers.

All of these considerations and others demonstrate the potential valuein providing the addition of another user interface sensor to atraditional hand-movable computer mouse. In the descriptions to follow,various implementations and exemplary applications of exemplaryembodiments are considered and explained.

1. Exemplary Signal Flow and Processing

The invention provides for a wide range of signal flow and processingconfigurations and implementations. FIGS. 1 a-1 i illustrate variousexemplary implementations involving merging, selecting, multiplexing,and preprocessing distributed in various ways between the body of theuser interface device and an associated piece of equipment. FIGS. 1 a-1d concern the aggregated pair of user interface sensors in isolation,while FIGS. 1 e-1 i address arrangements where some functions of theinvention are performed in the associated external equipment. It isnoted that the invention further provides for any of these exemplaryfunctionalities, as well as other functionalities, to be combined ormade selectable. In any of the exemplary implementations disclosedherein, power may be supplied to these implementations by the associatedexternal equipment or by other devices such as batteries, storagecapacitors, photoelectric devices, and the like.

FIG. 1 a shows an implementation 100 a featuring two user interfacesensors 101, 102, each of which may be a particular type of userinterface sensor (which again may be a trackball, touchpad, mouse, orother user interface device) that can be collocated within the commonphysical enclosure 100 (demarcated by the dotted-line boundary). Firstuser interface sensor 101 produces signal 108 and second user interfacesensor 102 produces another signal 109, which are directed to a merge orselect function 103. The merge or select function produces outgoingsignal 110 which is provided to associated external equipment. Heresignals 108,109 (from first and second user interface sensors 101,102)would typically lose their individual identities within the outgoingsignal 110 and as such may be used or processed interchangeably (withoutindividual attribution to either the first or second user interfacesensor) by the associated external equipment.

Merge or select function 103 may take several forms in variousimplementations. For example, in one embodiment it may simply be fixedto only perform a merge operation. In another embodiment it may onlyprovide a selection function; here the selection function may becontrolled by the user using a switch or some sort of action, or theselection may be remotely controlled by external equipment. As analternative, merge or select function 103 may instead provide a useradjustable “merge” or “select” function.

FIG. 1 b shows an implementation that is similar to that of FIG. 1 a.The primary difference is that the FIG. 1 b implementation 100 breplaces merge or select function 103 of FIG. 1 a with multiplexfunction 104 to produce outgoing signal 110. Here signals 108, 109 (fromfirst and second user interface sensors 101, 102) retain theirindividual identities within outgoing signal 110 and as such may be usedor processed separately by the associated external equipment.

FIG. 1 c shows implementation 100 c which is similar in many respects tothat of FIG. 1 a. However, the FIG. 1 c embodiment utilizes preprocessor105 applied to signal 109 to produce processed signal 109 a. Theprocessed signal 109 a, along with signal 108, is directed to merge orselect function 103, resulting in outgoing signal 110. Preprocessor 105may thus introduce a pre-processing step (such as resolutionmodification, warping modification, offset modification, etc.) on signal109 to produce a signal of distinguished value from that of signal 108.

FIG. 1 d illustrates another exemplary implementation 100 d which issimilar to that of FIG. 1 c but with an additional preprocessor 106applied to signal 108. Preprocessor 106 produces processed signal 108 a,which along with signal 109 a, is directed to merge or select function103 to produce outgoing signal 110. Preprocessor 106 may thereforeintroduce a pre-processing step (such as resolution modification,warping modification, offset modification, etc.) on signal 108 toproduce a signal of either equivalent or distinguished value fiom thatof signal 109 a.

FIG. 1 e shows implementation 100 b of FIG. 1 b (which features two userinterface sensors 101,102 and a multiplex function 104 producing anoutgoing signal 110) used in conjunction with subsequent functionsprovided by associated external equipment 150 a. These subsequentfunctions are shown within the functional boundary 150 of the associatedexternal equipment 150 a.

Outgoing signal 110 from the common physical enclosure 100, is presentedto demultiplexer 117 within external equipment 150 a. Demultiplexer 117produces signal 118 corresponding to or associated with pre-multiplexedsignal 108, and an additional signal 119 corresponding to or associatedwith the pre-multiplexed signal 109. Here, signals 118, 119 arepresented to merge or select function 113 producing merged or selectedsignal 120. This implementation is functionally similar or equivalent tothat of FIG. 1 a except that the various types of merge or selectionfunctions 103 are provided within the associated external equipment 150a (for example in software, perhaps within an application where it iscustomized for the needs of that application) rather than being providedwithin physical unit 100 b.

FIG. 1 f shows implementation 100 b of FIG. 1 b used in conjunction withsubsequent functions provided by associated external equipment 150 b,and similar to that of FIG. 1 e, except signal 119 produced bydemultiplexer 117 is directed to preprocessor 115 to produce processedsignal 119 a before being sent to merge or selection function 113. Thisimplementation is thus functionally similar or equivalent to that ofFIG. 1 c except that the various types of merge or selection 103 andpreprocessor 105 functions in FIG. 1 c are provided within theassociated external equipment 150 b (for example in software, perhapswithin an application where it is customized for the needs of thatapplication) rather than being provided within the physical unit 100 b.

FIG. 1 g shows implementation 100 b of FIG. 1 b used in conjunction withsubsequent functions provided by associated external equipment 150 c.This arrangement expands on that shown in FIG. 1 f in that signal 118produced by demultiplexer 117 is directed to preprocessor 116 to produceprocessed signal 118 a. The processed signal is then sent to merge orselection function 113. This implementation is thus functionally similaror equivalent to that of FIG. 1 d except that the various types of mergeor selection 103 and preprocessor 105, 106 functions in FIG. 1 d areprovided within the associated external equipment 150 c (for example insoftware, perhaps within an application where it is—customized for theneeds of that application) rather than being provided within thephysical unit 100 b.

FIG. 1 h shows implementation 100 b of FIG. 1 b used in conjunction withsubsequent functions provided by associated external equipment 150 d.Here again, as in the arrangement of FIG. 1 f, signal 119 produced bydemultiplexer 117 is directed to preprocessor 115 to produce processedsignal 119 a. In contrast to other embodiments, processed signal 119 ais not directed to merge or selection 113 function and retains itsidentity for use by a different destination from that of signal 118within associated external equipment 150 d.

As a final illustrative example in this series, FIG. 1 i showsimplementation 100 b of FIG. 1 b used in conjunction with subsequentfunctions provided by associated external equipment 150 e. Here, as inthe arrangement of FIG. 1 g, signals 118, 119 produced by demultiplexer117 are directed to preprocessors 115, 116 to produce processed signals118 a, 119 a. In contrast to other embodiments, processed signals 118 a,119 a are not directed to merge or selection 113 function and thusretain their identity for use by differing destinations withinassociated external equipment 150 e.

Having presented various exemplary signal flows and processingrealizations provided for by the invention, attention is now directed toexemplary implementations utilizing specific types of user interfacesensors. It is to be understood that the various sensors, techniques andmethods disclosed herein may be implemented using computer software,hardware, and firmware, and combinations thereof.

2. Implementations Utilizing Specific Types of Additional User InterfaceSensors

In this section, a number of exemplary implementations of the inventionutilizing various types of additional user interface sensors added to anoriginal user interface sensor or device. The first three sectionsaddress cases where the original user interface sensor is a movablemouse and the additional user interface sensor is a trackball, touchpad,or other exemplary technology, including additional scroll-wheels. Thenexemplary adaptations of trackballs and touchpads, each traditionallyused to provide simultaneous adjustment of two interactivewidely-varying parameters, are extended to provide simultaneousadjustment of as many as six interactive widely-varying parameters andother forms of control. This section continues by presenting exemplaryimplementations where the original user interface sensor is not a mouse,where there is a plurality of additional user interface sensors, wherethere is a visual display or auditory output, where the additional userinterface sensor is a removable module, and where the implementationitself is a removable module.

 2.1 Trackball Implementations of Additional User Interface Sensors

FIGS. 2 a-2 c illustrate a number of implementations provided for by theinvention where a trackball controller is used as an additional userinterface sensor apparatus incorporated into a traditional hand-movablecomputer mouse. In each of these implementations it is understood thatthe trackball may be freely operated without disturbing previous orcurrently-varying parameter adjustments made by the mouse.

In one implementation, a trackball controller is added to the topsurface of a conventional computer mouse as depicted in FIG. 2 a. Theconventional mouse buttons may be located in various places in view ofthe presence of the trackball and in synergy with it. In theconfiguration depicted in FIG. 2 a, buttons 201 and 202 are located onthe surface of mouse 200; button 201 being on the left of the trackballand button 202 being on the right of the trackball.

In a second configuration depicted in FIG. 2 b, buttons 231 and 232 arenow separated and located on the sides of mouse 230 as is the case withmany trackball interfaces; button 231 being on the left side of mouse230 and button 232 being on the right side of the mouse.

In a third possible configuration depicted in FIG. 2 c, elongatedbuttons 261 and 262 are shown located on the surface of the mouse 260;button 261 wraps around the left of the trackball and button 262 wrapsaround the right of the trackball. The elongated buttons 261 and 262 maybe positioned so that a user can readily and rapidly move fingers fromtrackball 265 to buttons 261 and 262, or even operate one of thesebuttons with one finger while another finger contacts trackball 265.

It is noted that unlike the touchpad described below, the trackball hasan effectively unconfined range of contiguous data entry.

 2.2 Touchpad Implementations of Additional User Interface Sensor

FIGS. 3 a-3 c illustrate a number of exemplary implementations providedfor by the invention where a touchpad controller is-used as anadditional user interface sensor incorporated into a traditionalhand-movable computer mouse. In each of these implementations it isunderstood that the touchpad may be freely operated without disturbingprevious or currently-varying parameter adjustments made by the mouse.

In one implementation, trackball 205 in FIG. 2 a can be replaced withtouchpad 305 as shown in FIG. 3 a. Additionally, this touchpadimplementation can also support the alternative button configurations ofFIGS. 2 b and 2 c. By way of illustration, FIG. 3 b shows buttons 331,332 positioned on either side of the mouse body 330, while FIG. 3 cshows elongated buttons 361, 362 on the surface of the mouse wrappingaround either side of touchpad 365.

It is noted that unlike the trackball, the touchpad typically has aconfined maximum range of data entry by contiguous operation of afinger, stylus, etc.

 2.3 Other Implementations of Additional User Interface Sensors.

In accordance with other embodiments, the invention provides for stillother types of additional user interface sensors. In each of theseembodiments it is understood that any of these user interface sensorsmay be freely operated without disturbing previous or currently varyingparameter adjustments made by the mouse or other associated device.

As a first example, an X-Y joystick may be used in place of thetrackball or touchpad described above. The joystick may have aspring-return or may retain the last position it was placed. Similar tothe touchpad and unlike the trackball, the X-Y joystick typically has aconfined maximum range of travel.

As another example, two or more scrolling finger wheels may be used inplace of the trackball or touchpad described above. The scrolling fingerwheels may be implemented with an unconfined maximum range of travelsimilar to the trackball, or with a confined range of travel like thetouchpad and X-Y joystick. In this embodiment, it may be advantageous tohave one or more finger scroll-wheels mounted with its adjustmentdirection perpendicular to that of another finger scroll-wheel so thateach wheel may be appropriately associated with vertical and horizontalscroll bars of a window, or other useful orthogonally-based userinterface metaphor. For example, looking ahead to FIGS. 10 a and 10 b,embodiments 1000 are depicted comprising the usual components of ascroll-wheel mouse (mouse body 1001, buttons 1011 and 1012, and theusual scroll wheel 1021) complemented with an additional scroll wheel1022 with adjustment direction perpendicular to that of fingerscroll-wheel 1021.

As another example, two or more rotating control knobs may be used inplace of the trackball or touchpad described above. Like the scrollingfinger wheels, the rotating control knobs may be implemented with anunconfined maximum range of travel like the trackball or with a confinedrange of travel like the touchpad and X-Y joystick.

The invention also provides for more exotic types of user interfacesensor technologies—for example, proximity detectors of various types(RF, infrared, etc.), video cameras (using any of the techniquesprovided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,570,078), and other emerging and unforeseentechnologies—to be used as the additional user interface sensoraggregated in the same physical enclosure as the first user interfacesensor.

 2.4 Larger Numbers of Interactively Widely-Varying AdjustableParameters from the Additional User Interface Sensor

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, additional userinterfaces may be used to capture larger numbers (i.e., more than two)of widely-varying adjustable parameters from the additional userinterface sensor. Some examples are provided here, but many others arepossible as may be readily understood by one skilled in the art.

FIGS. 4 a-4 d address the case of the trackball. FIG. 4 a illustrates afreely-rotating trackball 205 and the two principle orthogonaladjustment directions 401,402 that are responsively resolved andmeasured in traditional trackball user interface devices. However, atleast two other physical degrees of freedom may be readily exploited,and at least six total parameters can be interactively adjusted andmeasured. FIG. 4 b shows the application of downward pressure 403 ontrackball 205. Such pressure 403 may be applied without disturbingcurrent values established in orthogonal adjustment directions 401, 402.Further, the trackball may be implemented so that downward pressure 403may be applied while simultaneously adjusting trackball 205 inorthogonal adjustment directions 401, 402, particularly if the signalproduced by the measurement of downward pressure 403 incorporates amodest “grace” zone of non-responsiveness for light pressure values.Downward pressure impulses may alternatively be sensed and treated asdiscrete event “taps,” as commonly used in contemporary touchpadinterfaces found in laptop computers, for example.

FIG. 4 c shows the application of “yaw” rotation 404 (i.e., rotationaround the vertical axis) of trackball 205. This yaw rotation 404 may beapplied without disturbing current values established in orthogonaladjustment directions 401,402 and can be readily measured and adjustedas a widely-varying parameter. Further, by grasping trackball 205 (orother operational methods), the yaw rotation 404 and traditionalorthogonal adjustment directions 401,402 may be independently andsimultaneously adjusted. It is also noted that in principle up to sixwidely-varying physical degrees of freedom can be simultaneouslymeasured from a properly configured trackball 205 by placing thetrackball 205 in a cradle that senses not only downward pressure 403 ordisplacement but also lateral pressure or displacement. As shown in FIG.4 d, both forward-backward, non-rotational force 405 and left-right,non-rotational force 406 may be applied to the trackball in a mannerthat the values of force or displacement in each of these directions405, 406 can be independently measured. Thus, by grasping trackball 205(or other operational methods), three rotational directions oforientation 401, 402, 404 and three non-rotational directions of forceor displacement 403, 405, 406 may be independently and simultaneouslyadjusted by a user and measured as six independent interactivelyadjustable user interface parameters. These correspond, effectively, tomeasurable adaptations of the six degrees of freedom of an orientableobject in 3-dimensional space as found in classical mechanics andaeronautics—that is:

-   -   “roll” rotation (adapted to 401)    -   “pitch” rotation (adapted to 402)    -   “up-down: displacements (adapted to 403)    -   “yaw” rotation (adapted to 404)    -   “forward-backward” displacements (adapted to 405)    -   “left-right” displacements (adapted to 406).

Most trackball sensing technologies use optically based techniques forsensing the two traditional components of rotation (“roll” and “pitch”)of the trackball. The trackball itself may be configured with an opticalpattern on it with spatially varying reflectivity for a range of thelight spectrum. The pattern may be such that it can spatially vary lightreflectively in these two traditional components of trackball rotation.Alternatively, two spatially varying reflectivity patterns, each activeat different ranges of the light spectrum or light polarization, may besuperimposed or integrated with the trackball.

A number of approaches may be used to obtain measurements for all threedirections of rotation. In one completely optical approach, a second orthird spatially varying reflectivity pattern active at, respectively, asecond or third portion of the light spectrum (or light polarization ifavailable) may be superimposed or integrated with the patterns employedfor traditional “roll” and “pitch” rotation sensing, and an additionaloptical source and sensor is used to obtain measurement of the addedvarying reflectivity pattern. Depending on the pattern(s) used, sensorsignals may be directly usable or may require processing of the threeprimitive signals measured by the sensors to obtain a cleandecomposition of the measurement signals into independent “roll,”“pitch,” and “yaw” signals independently responsive to the “roll,”“pitch,” and “yaw” components of trackball rotation.

As another alternative, the trackball may include internally, or on itssurface, or both, materials with spatially varying patterns of magneticproperties, capacitive properties, electromagnetic properties,ultrasonic acoustic properties, resonance phenomena of any of theseproperties, polarization phenomena of any of these properties, etc.,individually or in combination, each of which may be active at specificranges of polarization, frequencies, etc. These may be used togetherwith or in place of optical measurement approaches. Again, depending onthe pattern(s) used, sensor signals may be directly usable or mayrequire processing of the three primitive signals measured by thesensors to obtain a clean decomposition of the measurement signals intoindependent “roll,” “pitch,” and “yaw” signals independently responsiveto the “roll,” “pitch,” and “yaw” components of trackball rotation as isclear to one skilled in the art. It is also noted that the thirdcomponent of rotation of the freely-rotating trackball may beinterpreted or even measured as a discrete “click” event.

Similarly, a number of approaches may be used to obtain measurements forone, two, or three directions of non-rotational trackball displacement.For example, the trackball may be secured in a saddle allowing freerotation of the trackball but causing any displacement actions on thetrackball to invoke displacements of the saddle. The saddle displacementmay be measured with a displacement sensor which itself may comprise oneor more pressure, optical, resistive, capacitive, magnetic,electromagnetic, continuous-range sensors, switches, etc. It is alsonoted that one or more components of displacement of the freely-rotatingtrackball may be interpreted or even measured as a discrete “click”event.

FIGS. 5 a-5 d turn now to the case of the touchpad. FIG. 5 a illustratestouchpad 305 and the two principle orthogonal data entry directions 501,502 that are responsively resolved and measured in traditional touchpaduser interface devices. The touchpad shown in FIGS. 5 a-5 d, whichprovides at least four other physical degrees of freedom, may beimplemented using the techniques presented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,570,078,for example.

FIG. 5 b illustrates the use of downward pressure 503 in the context ofa touchpad. In contemporary touchpad interfaces, such as those found inlaptop computers for example, such downward pressure 503 is sensed andutilized as discrete event “taps.” However, downward pressure 503 mayalso be measured and adjusted as an independent and simultaneouslyinteractive widely-varying parameter. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 5c, the rotational angle 504 of a finger contacting a touchpad withrough-elliptical contact boundary can also be measured as awidely-varying parameter. In FIG. 5 d, both forward-backward 505 andleft-right 506 components of the tilt of a contacting finger canadditionally be measured as independent and simultaneously interactivewidely-varying parameters.

The sensing of multiple fingers, the application of contact syntaxes andgrammars, and other user interface control expansions of an adequatelyconfigured touchpad may also be achieved using, for example, thetechniques presented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,570,078.

The invention also provides for larger numbers (i.e., more than two) ofwidely varying adjustable parameters from other types of user interfacesensor technologies. In the case of an X-Y joystick, the joystick may beconfigured to rotate on its axis, pulled in and out, fitted with a knobor trackball, etc., in a measurable fashion to provide additional andsimultaneous interactively adjustable parameters. In the cases of fingerscroll-wheels and rotational knobs, three or more of these devices maybe provided. When implementing video cameras, known techniques for theextraction of additional parameters may be used. Examples of the varioustypes of video extraction techniques that may be used are presented inU.S. Pat. No. 6,570,078.

 2.5 Non-Mouse User Interface Sensors

In one of its most abstract forms, the invention involves theincorporation of two conventional user interface sensors (such as amouse, trackball, touchpad, joystick, etc.) into an embodiment where theuser may freely use both of the user interface sensors individually orsimultaneously with the same hand. As such, the invention provides forimplementations that do not include a mouse as one of the user interfacesensors. For example, two or more individual user interface sensors canbe combined without need of a traditional hand-movable computer mouse.Such an implementation may be accomplished by implementing one of thepossible user interface sensors in place of the traditional hand-movablecomputer mouse where taught in other descriptions of the invention. Thisconfiguration may be useful when built into a laptop computer, controlconsole, musical instrument, and test instrument, among others.

In one exemplary implementation of a non-mouse embodiment, a trackballand touchpad may be arranged in the same physical enclosure so that thefront, middle, or back of the palm may freely operate a conventionaltrackball while one or more selected extended or arching fingers maysimultaneously or alternatively operate a touchpad. In this example, thetouchpad may be a conventional touchpad providing two widely-varyingsimultaneously interactive parameters from a single finger contact, orthe touchpad may be a more enhanced version providing as many as sixwidely-varying and simultaneously interactive parameters from a singlefinger contact. The touchpad may also be configured to accept multiplepoints of contact, recognize gestures, support syntax and grammaticalconstructions using, for example, the teachings provided by U.S. Pat.No. 6,570,078.

In another non-mouse implementation, two trackballs may be arranged inthe same physical enclosure. In one possible arrangement, the twotrackballs may be positioned so that they lie parallel to the length ofthe hand, enabling the front, middle, or back of the palm to freelyoperate a first trackball while one or more extended or arching fingersmay simultaneously or alternatively operate the second trackball.

In another arrangement, the two trackballs may be positioned so thatthey lie parallel to the width of the hand, so that the fingers and/orthumb on the left side of the hand may operate a leftmost trackballwhile the remaining fingers and/or thumb on the right side of the handmay individually or simultaneously operate a rightmost trackball. Ineach of these arrangements, either or both of the trackballs may be aconventional trackball providing two widely-varying and simultaneouslyinteractive parameters, or it may be a more enhanced trackball providingas many as six widely-varying and simultaneously interactive parametersas described earlier.

In addition to the just-described embodiments, alternative arrangements,such as the combination of a palm-operated trackball and a recessedjoystick, and others, are also provided for by the invention.

 2.6 Use of More than One Additional User Interface Sensor

Typically the arrangements of two non-mouse user interface sensorsdescribed above in Section 2.5 can also be applied to embodiments of theinvention where a mouse user interface sensor is used. In suchembodiments, a mouse user interface sensor is supplemented with at leasttwo additional user interface sensors ergonomically arranged so that thetwo additional user interface sensors may be simultaneously oralternatively operated by the same hand. If these embodiments arefurther configured so the mouse body is readily moved with adequateprecision via the back of the operating hand, then all three userinterface sensors may be simultaneously or alternatively operated by thesame hand in an ergonomically advantageous manner.

FIGS. 14 a-14 d illustrate some exemplary embodiments of thejust-described features. FIG. 14 a illustrates a mouse where traditionalmouse buttons have been replaced by trackballs 1405 a, 1405 b. Thesetrackballs 1405 a, 1405 b may accept a downward pressure impulse and assuch act as the traditional mouse buttons. However, trackballs 1405 a,1405 b are also adjustable and each readily provides two or moreadditional widely-variable and simultaneously adjustable parameters inaddition to the two parameters adjusted by moving the mouse body 1400.

FIG. 14 b shows a similar arrangement where traditional mouse buttonshave been replaced by touchpads 1435 a, 1435 b. If desired, thesetouchpads may accept a downward pressure impulse and as such act astraditional mouse buttons, but are also adjustable as touchpads and assuch each readily provides two or more additional widely-variable andsimultaneously adjustable parameters. As described in Section 2.5, asingle hand may be positioned to comfortably operate simultaneously oralternatively both trackballs or both touchpads. If these embodimentsare further configured so the mouse body is readily moved with adequateprecision via the back of the operating hand, then either of theseembodiments readily provides six to twelve widely-variable andsimultaneously adjustable parameters.

Other configurations are of course possible. For example, theconfigurations of FIGS. 14 a and 14 b may be blended as depicted in FIG.14 c, or in its mirror image. As another example, FIG. 14 d illustratesa more extreme realization comprising a left-fingers/thumb trackball1465 a, a right-fingers/thumb trackball 1465 b, a palm trackball 1465 c,and a traditional clickable scroll-wheel 1468. Yet another alternativeis to replace one or more of the trackballs of the FIG. 14 d embodimentwith a touchpad user interface sensor.

 2.7 Incorporation of Visual Display and Auditory Output

If desired, any of the mouse and non-mouse embodiments may furtherinclude a visual display. The visual display may provide details ofadjustable parameter values, operation modalities, etc. The visualdisplay may be physically associated with a physical enclosure (such asthat of a traditional computer mouse), or may be displayed on thecomputer screen or display of other associated equipment.

Alternatively or additionally, any of the mouse and non-mouseembodiments may further provide auditory output. The auditory output mayprovide details of adjustable parameter values, operation modalities,error conditions in usage of the invention, a condition relating toelapsed time or other metric of consistent use of a single usagemodality, etc. The auditory output associated with the invention may bephysically associated with a physical enclosure (such as that of atraditional computer mouse), or may be produced by speakers or headsetsaffiliated with the computer or other associated equipment.

 2.8 Provisions for Field Installation or Replacement of Additional UserInterface Sensor

The invention also provides for the user interface sensor to beimplemented using a replaceable module accepted by an adaptation of atraditional computer mouse. In this implementation a user may initiallyobtain the invention in one configuration and field modify it to anotherconfiguration.

 2.9 Implementation as a Module Removable from Affiliated Equipment

The invention also provides for a traditional computer mouse to beimplemented as a removable module in a laptop computer or otheraffiliated equipment, and may include a wireless link with such devices.In particular, this removable module may further include one or moreuser interface sensors, with these sensors operable as a traditionaltrackball or touchpad when the invention is stowed in the laptopcomputer or other affiliated equipment in such a way that theinvention's traditional hand-movable computer mouse modality isunmovable and hence unusable.

3. Exemplary Applications

Departing now from the range of extreme realization and embodiments ofthe invention, attention is directed towards particular applications ofthe invention. A number of examples of various embodiments of theinvention in a wide range of applications will now be presented. Many ofthese applications are viable with only the simplest physicalembodiments of the invention (for example, those suggested by FIGS. 2a-2 c and 3 a-3 c). In the discussion that follows, particular note isdirected towards the discussion in Section 3.3 involving FIGS. 8 and 9a-9 b. Although the discussion is motivated by a graphical layoutapplication, the principles of the discussion in Section 3.3 involvingFIGS. 8 and 9 a-9 b are very general, and the discussion illustrates thepower of the invention for various applications in almost directlyquantifiable terms.

 3.1 Wrist/Hand/Arm-Fatigue Relief and Prevention Application

The danger and damage stemming from extensive continuous or mis-posturedmouse usage to wrist, hand, and arms are sadly misfortunate andincreasingly well recognized. As the present invention provides aplurality of different user interface sensors, it is well suited for usein responding to and preventing wrist/hand/arm fatigue due to overuse.In one exemplary implementation, user interface parameters can beinterchangeably adjusted with either the movement of the mouse body orthe use of an integrated trackball or touchpad with identical taskresults. Thus a user with a tiring hand can change at will the userinterface sensor employed according to how the hand feels or the natureof a specific task. In addition, to prevent fatigue or injury, the usercan also switch back and forth between moving the mouse body and usingthe trackball/touchpad either by free choice or by following auditory orvisual prompting from a time or usage monitor.

 3.2 Double-Scrollbar Application

Contemporary mice often feature a small rotating wheel between thebuttons for use in operating the vertical scroll bar of a window withoutchanging the position of the mouse. In one particular application of theinvention, the left-right sensing capability of the trackball ortouchpad may be used to add a similar capability for horizontal scrollbars of a window.

In a trackball implementation, a user can move the vertical bar 611 ofFIG. 6 up by rotating trackball 205 away from him/herself, or one canmove the vertical bar 621 down by rotating trackball 205 towardshim/herself. By rotating trackball 205 to the left, the user can movethe horizontal bar 621 left. Similarly, the user can move the horizontalbar 621 right by rotating the trackball 205 to the right. In a touchpadimplementation, a user can move scroll bar 611 up by sliding the fingeraway from her/himself or move scroll bar 611 down by sliding thecontacting finger towards her/himself; similarly, the user can move thescroll bar 621 left by sliding the finger to the left or move the scrollbar 621 right by sliding the contacting finger to the right.

In another implementation, the vertical and horizontal scroll bars maybe adjusted with a conventional scroll-wheel mouse that has been fittedwith an additional scroll-wheel. FIGS. 10 a and 10 b depict exemplaryembodiments 1000 of such an arrangement which comprise the usualcomponents of a scroll-wheel mouse including mouse body 1001, buttons1011 and 1012, and traditional scroll wheel 1021, with these componentsfurther complemented by an additional scroll wheel 1022 with adjustmentdirection perpendicular to that of finger scroll-wheel 1021. FIG. 10 aillustrates an arrangement where the additional scroll-wheel is locatedcloser to the user while FIG. 10 b illustrates an arrangement where theadditional scroll-wheel is located farther away from the user. In eachof these arrangements, the two scroll-wheels are shown co-centered withrespect to the mouse body; for simultaneous adjustment it may beadvantageous to locate the additional scroll-wheel 1022 to one side orthe other of the centered positions shown in FIGS. 10 a and 10 b. Oneapproach useful for supporting both left-handed and right-handed users,which may provide additional utility, would be to provide twooff-centered additional scroll-wheels, one on either side of the centerline of the mouse body 1001 and conventional scroll-wheel 1021.

 3.3 Traditional 2D Layout, CAD, and Graphics Applications

In most contemporary 2-dimensional layout and graphics applications,such as those commonly used for viewgraphs, page layout, electronic CAD,etc., numerous mouse operations are necessary for each of the many typesof object attribute modification, etc. Typically, these mouse operationsare required because the mouse only allows for the interactiveadjustment of two widely-varying parameters at a time, and the user mustchange context several times as the parameters adjusted by the mouse arechosen, adjusted, and then replaced with another pair of parameters. Thepresent invention is useful in many of these circumstances because itallows for more than two parameters to be adjusted at the same time.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a session involving the authoring of aviewgraph. The viewgraph authoring task showcased in this exampleincludes the creation of a flowchart diagram (here depicting a businessworkflow process) and as such also illustrates related needs andattributes of a 2D CAD program involving layout of a diagram (such as acircuit, algorithm, etc.) or physical object (such as a PC board,control panel, semiconductor photolithography mask, etc.). In that thisexample further involves drawing, the example also illustrates therelated needs and attributes of a paint-box or electronic draftingapplication.

In this broadly representative application, application window 700 isshown comprising menu area 700 a and drawing area 700 b. Within thedrawing area, viewgraph title 701 and portion 702 of the flowchart to bedrawn, comprising thus far a sequence of flowgraph objects connected byarrows, have already been entered and rendered. New flowgraph objectsmay be introduced in standard fashion by selecting the type of newobject desired from a palette, initially putting an instance of theselected object type in a convenient place in the drawing area,adjusting the size, orientation, color, and/or other attributes, andputting into final position. Often a number of the last few steps areinteractively cycled through multiple times before the newly introducedobject is adequately drawn and the user directs their attention to thenext task. In this example, the palette of available objects of aspecific high-level task is shown as an overlapping stack of threesub-class palettes 703 a, 703 b, 703 c, each providing a selection ofavailable objects within that sub-class. Here, for example, sub-classpalette 703 a has been selected (as indicated by the heavy line) fromother available objects 705, within the sub-class palette 703 a. Uponselection, an initial highly adjustable rendering of a specific instance714 of the selected object 704 appears in a convenient location, whichmay be selected by the user.

The specific instance 714, rendered in this highly adjustable initialstate, is typically surrounded by graphical handles 716 which facilitatesizing, positioning within the drawing area, and often at leastrotational orientation (for example, using the mouse with the ALT keysimultaneously held down to interactively adjust the angle of rotationof the object should that be needed). Traditionally, the cursorcontrolled by the mouse 717 can be moved within object 714 to relocateit within drawing area 700 b or can, as shown in FIG. 7, be positionedatop one of the graphical handles 716 to permit the mouse to adjust thehorizontal and vertical scale of object 714, i.e., adjust its size andaspect-ratio. In some application packages, the latter adjustment ispermitted to collapse the object through to ‘zero’ thickness in one ofthe adjustment dimensions and continue through to re-render the objectin mirror image, thus additionally providing a form of vertical andhorizontal flip by using the size and aspect-ratio resizing.

As familiar and widely accepted as these sorts of operations are, thereis considerable overhead involved in such sequences of repeatedselecting and adjusting (and in some cases additional deselecting) pairsof parameters from a larger collection of parameters. To see severalaspects of the power of the present invention, these operations are nowexamined in more detail in generalized form.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing tasks involved in selecting and adjustingone of a plurality of available pairs of adjustable parameters by usinga user interface device permitting the adjustment of only one pair ofparameters at a time. In FIG. 8, the task goal is simply to adjust apair of selected parameters 801 from a larger group of adjustableparameters. However, since a larger number of parameters are availablefor adjustment than are available at one time with the user interfacesensor, the specific pair of parameters must first be selected. In mostknown graphical user interface systems and methods, this typicallyinvolves first using the user interface device to control the movementof a cursor to a selection area of the graphical interface in a firstoverhead step 811 and then selecting the adjustment context (parameterpair) in a second overhead step 821.

In some situations the selected pair of parameters may be immediatelyadjusted in goal operation 801, but typically the cursor must then atleast be moved, in a third overhead operation 812, to a location outsideof the selection area affiliated with operations 811 and 821 to anotherlocation (such as a drawing or typing area) affiliated with the context(parameter pair) that has just been selected for adjustment. In somesituations the selected pair of parameters may be immediately adjustedin goal operation 801, but typically the context must be activated (forexample, by clicking in an open portion of a drawing area or selectingan existing object) in a fourth overhead operation 822.

After the selected pair of parameters are adjusted (for example, bysizing a rectangle, etc.) the cycle may then immediately be repeated insome variant form for another pair of parameters, but typically theparameters must be deselected (for example, by another click to set thefinal value) in a fifth overhead operation 823 before the cursor may bemoved to the selection area in another instance of operation 811. Insummary, in order to adjust one pair of parameters from a larger groupof parameters, as many as five overhead operations (as many as twocursor movements 811, 812 and as many as three select/deselect clicks821, 822, 823) are commonly required.

FIGS. 9 a-9 b show broader implications of the overhead called out inFIG. 8. FIG. 9 a depicts the sequential adjustment of pairs ofparameters chosen from a larger group of pairs of parameters in ascenario suggestive of no interactive iteration. One pair of parametersis adjusted with up to five overhead operations in action 901, then asecond pair of parameters is adjusted with up to five overheadoperations in action 902, then a third pair of parameters is adjustedwith up to five overhead operations in action 903, and so on. Here theoverhead slows things down but may not be a significant encumbrance tothe broader goal of actions 901, 902, 903, etc.

In contrast, FIG. 9 b depicts an interactive adjustment of pairs ofparameters from a larger group of parameters in a scenario suggestive ofone where interactive iteration is required, as the setting of one pairof parameters is difficult to complete without setting other parameters.Here the overhead is likely a significant encumbrance to the higher goalinvolving the pair-wise adjustment actions 901, 902, 903, etc. Forexample, consider the interactive adjustment of six parameters, one pairat a time, through pair-wise adjustment actions 901,902,903; not onlyare up to five operations of overhead involved for each of the pair-wiseadjustment actions 901,902,903, but a considerable extra number ofpasses must be made through these pair-wise adjustment actions 901,902,903 due to the fact that the adjustment of some parameters dependson or interacts heavily with the values of other parameters. Thesituation gets even more cumbersome should additional pair-wiseadjustment operations be required. FIG. 9 b further shows the potentialfor one or more additional adjustment actions 950 which in principle maybe iterated as well as and combined with pair-wise adjustment actions901, 902, 903 (as suggested by fully-connected iteration paths 921, 922,923). In contrast to such sequences or iterative graphs of pair-wiseadjustment actions, the present invention readily offers, for example,four, six, eight or even higher numbers of simultaneously adjustableparameters controllable by the same hand, which, when selected in acontext, eliminate the many overhead operations depicted in FIGS. 8 and9 a-9 b, and the many additional iteration steps depicted in FIG. 9 b.

Returning now to the generalized graphical layout situation describedearlier and depicted in FIG. 7, the following operations are routinelyperformed in 2D graphics, layout, and CAD applications:

-   -   A. Selection of palette containing object;    -   B. Selection of object from palette;    -   C. Selection of “layer” object is to be assigned to (common in        CAD, but typically not used in standard draw and paint        packages);    -   D. Adjustment of object placement in drawing;    -   E. Adjustment of object sizing;    -   F. Adjustment of object rotation;    -   G. Adjustment of object line thickness(es);    -   H. Adjustment of object line color(s);    -   I. Adjustment of object fill color(s); and    -   J. Adjustment of object fill pattern(s);

Of these, operations B, D, and E are almost always utilized, operationsA, G, and I are frequently utilized, and operations C, F, H, and J arerarely utilized.

Thus, in one exemplary application of the invention, it may beadvantageous to group specific collections of operations that arecommonly used together (this may be application specific) so that thebenefits of having four or more widely-adjustable interactive parameterssimultaneously available can be applied to speed the execution of basiccommon operations. For example:

-   -   Employing a four-parameter version of the invention:        -   Operation 1: Mouse for operation B        -   Operation 2: Mouse for operation D, trackball or touchpad            for operation E    -   Employing a six-parameter version of the invention comprising a        4-parameter touchpad:        -   Operation 1: Mouse for operation B, touchpad finger-location            for operation D, touchpad finger-tilt for operation E.    -   Employing a six-parameter version of the invention comprising a        mouse and two trackballs or touchpads:        -   Operation 1: Mouse for operation B, first trackball/touchpad            for operation D, second trackball/touchpad for operation E.

Other operations can be later applied in groupings and operationsappropriate for the application.

As a possible alternative to the preceding example, it may beadvantageous to assign a principal one of the user interface sensors tothe sequential adjustment of each of such universal (or otherwiseprincipal) operations and reserve the additional user interface sensorsfor rapid “in-context” interactive access to less frequently usedoperations. For example:

-   -   Employing a four-parameter version of the invention:        -   Operation 1: Mouse for operation B, trackball or touchpad            for operation A and/or operation C;        -   Operation 2: Mouse for operation D, trackball or touchpad            for operation E and/or operation F;        -   Operation 3: Mouse for operation G, trackball or touchpad            for operation H; and        -   Operation 4: Mouse for operation I, trackball or touchpad            for operation J.    -   Employing a six-parameter version of the invention comprising a        4-parameter touchpad:        -   Operation 1: Mouse for operation B, touchpad finger-location            for operation A and touchpad finger-tilt for operation C;        -   Operation 2: Mouse for operation D, touchpad finger-location            for operation E and touchpad finger-tilt for operation F;        -   Operation 3: Mouse for operation G, touchpad finger-location            (and touchpad finger-tilt as useful) for operation H; and        -   Operation 4: Mouse for operation I, touchpad finger-location            (and touchpad finger-tilt as useful) for operation J.    -   Employing a six-parameter version of the invention comprising a        mouse and two trackballs or touchpads:        -   Operation 1: Mouse for operation B, first trackball/touchpad            for operation A and second trackball/touchpad for operation            C;        -   Operation 2: Mouse for operation D, first trackball/touchpad            for operation E and second trackball/touchpad for operation            F;        -   Operation 3: Mouse for operation G, first            trackball;/touchpad (and second trackball/touchpad as            useful) for operation H; and        -   Operation 4: Mouse for operation I, first trackball/touchpad            (and second trackball/touchpad as useful) for operation J.

As another alternative example, the user may freely assign userinterface sensor parameters to operations A through J (and others as maybe useful) for each of a number of steps as may match the task or tasksat hand. These assignments may be stored for later retrieval and use,and may be named by the user. The stored assignments may be saved alongwith specific files, specific applications, or as a general template theuser may apply to a number of applications. It is noted that suchvariable assignments may be particularly useful to users as their handsfatigue, to prevent fatigue or injury, or as an adjustment for atemporary or permanent disability.

 3.4 Multi-Resolution Mouse Application

In another exemplary family of applications, one user interface sensor(for example, the mouse body) is used for course adjustment or fineadjustment of user interface parameters, while the additional userinterface sensor (for example, a trackball or touchpad) is used for theremaining level of parameter adjustment resolution.

In most user-interface applications it is advantageous to have multiplescales of graphical user interface pointing and data entry. Many windowsystems provide an ‘acceleration’ setting which changes the pointing anddata entry values on a more significant scale used for user interfacechanges made less frequently. Many applications further internallyadjust the resolution as the corresponding visual display is “zoomed” inand out.

In many user interface applications, additional levels of resolutionselection may be useful. For example, in pointing usage in text work,multiple resolutions would be advantageous in amending fine print or inmaking isolated changes in thumbnail overviews of 40% actual size orless. Similarly, in graphics work, fine resolution may be especiallyuseful in making fine adjustments to figures. In the fine adjustment offigures, it may be further advantageous to employ each of the separateuser interface sensors in conjunction with corresponding snap-grids ofdiffering grid spacing, particularly if one of the grid spacings is asub-multiple of the other. A potentially useful extension of this wouldbe to impose locally-applicable grid spacing on individual graphic orother objects, particularly objects which have been resized and hencefor which the standard snap-grid spacing is no longer useful.

In a further application, the user interface may be directed towardsnon-positional adjustments, such as the adjustment of a rotation angleor of the color of a graphic object; here multiple resolutions may bevaluable to make careful adjustments and coarse adjustments as needed.Similarly, scroll bars for long documents may also benefit from rapidaccess to multiple resolution scales, for example one user interfacesensor may be used to navigate within a page (using a fine-grainednavigation scale) while a second user interface sensor may be used tonavigate across pages (using a coarser-grained navigation scale).

 3.5 Provision of Both Absolute and Relative Positioning

As discussed earlier, some types of user interface sensors, such as thetouchpad and X-Y joystick for example, naturally have a limited maximumrange of operation while others such as a mouse, trackball, andscroll-wheel have an essentially unlimited maximum range of operation.Although most user interface sensors are interpreted in relative terms(that is, the stimulus from the sensor is interpreted as a command tomove a cursor, scroll bar, etc., incrementally in some directionrelative to a current position), stimulus signals from any of thesetypes of user interface signals may be interpreted in either a relativeor absolute manner with varying degrees of naturalness or problematicqualities.

The present invention provides for one user interface sensor to be usedfor absolute positioning of a cursor, scroll bar, etc., or other meansof parameter adjustment while another user interface sensor is used fortraditional relative adjustment of such parameters. For example, ascroll bar may be adjusted in the usual fashion by a mouse body ortrackball and in an absolute manner by a touchpad wherein the extremevalues of the adjusted parameter correspond to the extreme positions atthe edges of the touchpad. In one embodiment or application settingthese two user interface sensors may control the same parameters—here itis often the result that the two sensors adjust the same parameters withdifferent resolutions. Further, in this situation it is fairly likelythat at least one of the resolution scale factors will be adjustedautomatically. For example, in a document editor, as the number of pagesof the document varies, the resolution of the absolute positioningsensor will correspondingly vary (so that the extremities in range of,for example, a touchpad correspond to the top of the first page and endof the last page) while the relative positioning sensor may retain thesame incrementing/decrementing vertical scrolling resolution scaleregardless of the number of pages.

 3.6 Color-Selection Application

In color adjustment, three parameters are involved in the fullinteractive span of any complete color space (RGB, HSB, YUV, etc.). Byadding additional parameters to the overall user interface, all threeparameters can be adjusted simultaneously rather than simply two at atime. As the present invention provides at least four simultaneousinteractively adjustable parameters overall, it is thus potentiallyuseful for fully interactive color adjustment within a complete colorspace model. Further, should the additional user interface sensor besuch that it alone provides three simultaneously interactivelyadjustable parameters, the first user interface sensor (for example, themouse body) may be used as a pointer to select objects and theadditional user interface sensor may be used to adjust attributes of theselected object such as its color, border color, etc.

 3.7 Multi-level Graphic Object Grouping and Editing Application

In many drawing applications, lower-level graphical or other objects(such as lines, basic shapes, and text areas) may be grouped to form anaggregated object. This aggregated or “grouped” object (collectivelyreferred to herein as an “aggregated object”) can then be moved,rotated, flipped, resized, etc. as if it were a lower-level graphic orother object. Grouping can also typically be done hierarchically and inmixed hierarchies, i.e., a plurality of lower-level graphical or otherobjects may first be grouped, and the resulting aggregated object maythen itself be grouped with other aggregated objects and/or lower-levelgraphical or other objects.

Often one or more of the lower-level graphical or other objectscomprising the aggregated object may need modification. In the case oftext, most applications permit modifications to be made to individualtext objects within an aggregated object. However, for any isolatedadjustment to any other lower-level graphical or other object theaggregated object must be first disaggregated or “ungrouped” tocompletely free the involved lower-level graphical or other object fromany grouping it had been involved in. After the modification, thegrouping must be reconstructed. Often this becomes a cumbersomesituation, particularly where the adjustments within the group arethemselves an interactive response to other adjustments made within adrawing.

The additional number of widely-adjustable simultaneously interactiveparameters made possible by the invention may be advantageously appliedto this problem. For example, one user interface sensor may be used tonavigate the levels of grouping and another user interface sensor may beused to perform operations on objects (lower-level or “grouped”) withinthat level of grouping of the overall aggregated object.

As an illustrative example, FIG. 11 a shows a portion 1100 of a largerdrawing, the portion 1100 featuring box 1101, two arrowed lines 1111,1112, and grouped object 1102 (here itself comprising two trianglesconnected by a line). In this example it is given that grouped object1102 is itself grouped with box 1101 to form a second grouped object,and this second grouped object is itself grouped with the two arrowedlines 1111, 1112 to form a third grouped object. The user's task is tomodify FIG. 11 a so that it becomes FIG. 11 b. To do this, effectivelythe user must, in some order of operation:

-   -   Reposition grouped object 1102 from its original position in        FIG. 11 a to a new position in FIG. 11 b;    -   Copy or otherwise reproduce grouped object 1102 to create an        accompanying grouped object 1102 a, and position it within box        1101;    -   Introduce a vertically distributed ellipsis 1103 and position it        within box 1101—typically, a vertically distributed ellipsis        1103 is either rotated text or itself a fourth grouped object        created from three aligned text elements; and    -   Ensure elements 1102, 1102 a, and 1103 are in the end grouped        with box 1101 to form the second grouped object, and this second        grouped object is itself grouped with the two arrowed lines        1111, 1112 to form a third grouped object.

Utilizing the invention, one user interface sensor is used to select thesecond group level, and the second user interface sensor is used toperform insert, copy, paste, and position operations within this levelof grouping without any form or type of ungrouping operation. If thevertically distributed ellipsis 1103 itself is realized as a fourthgrouped object created from three aligned text elements, when it ispasted into the drawing via this modality its 1103 grouping issubordinated appropriately (i.e., structured as a peer to groupedobjects 1102, 1102 a) within the second grouping level.

Although readily implemented using the novel user interface sensorsdescribed herein that make it particularly easy to simultaneously adjusta plurality of pairs of parameters, the aspects of the inventionillustrated here can also be implemented with a conventional userinterface sensor such as a traditional mouse, trackball, or touchpad. Inthis case, the conventional user interface sensor such as a traditionalmouse, trackball, or touchpad must first be used to select the level ofgrouping and then be used to make the desired modifications within thatlevel of grouping; to make modifications at a different level ofgrouping, the new level of grouping must be selected in a separateoperation, thus adding overhead, as depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9 a-9 b.Although this novel ability to move and modify arbitrary graphic orother objects within groupings may be implemented in this way, having anadditional number of widely-adjustable simultaneously interactiveparameters—made possible by the main themes of the present invention—isclearly more efficient, as many or all of the overhead operationsdepicted in FIGS. 8 and 9 a-9 b can be eliminated via usage of theadditional widely-adjustable simultaneously interactive parameters.

 3.8 3D Graphic Object Placement and Orientation Application

CAD and drawing packages that enable 3D object placement and orientationwithin a 3D space typically extend the capabilities of traditional 2Dlayout, CAD, and graphics applications as described in Section 3.3 toserve additional geometric needs. As illustrated in FIG. 12, theplacement and orientation of 3D object 1200 within a 3D space 1250(oriented with respect to a reference point 1251) requires that oneadditional position dimension and two additional orientation angles bespecified to complete the full collection of three position dimensions1201, 1202, 1203 and three orientation angles 1211, 1212, 1213.

To interactively adjust these parameters pairwise (or individually witha knob box as has been done historically in some systems) involvescomplex repetitive passes among high overhead operations as depicted inFIGS. 9 a-9 b, for example among steps 901, 902, 903. The necessity ofmaking many high-overhead operations, for example moving among steps901, 902, 903, can be functionally disruptive as well as slow andinefficient. The ability to interactively freely adjust the fullcollection of three position dimensions 1201, 1202, 1203 and threeorientation angles 1211, 1212, 1213 is thus of extremely high value.

The invention provides for a wide range of mappings between the sixposition and orientation parameters 1201, 1202, 1203, 1211, 1212, 1213involved in the placement and orientation of 3D object 1200 within a 3Dspace, and the large numbers of widely-adjustable and simultaneouslyinteractive parameters facilitated by various realizations of theinvention. As one example, a mouse fitted with two trackballs as in FIG.14 a may be used to specify these six parameters in various ways. Onetechnique is to use the position of mouse body 1400 to control two ofthe position coordinates (for example 1202, 1203), one of the trackballs(for example 1405 a) to control the orientation angles (1212, 1213)corresponding to these two axes, and the remaining trackball (1405 b) tocontrol the remaining axis (1201) and its corresponding orientationangle (1211). In this example, trackballs 1405 a, 1405 b are configuredor used in 2-parameter modalities.

In another example, the mouse of FIG. 14 a is fitted with twotrackballs, the trackballs may be configured in 3-parameter modalitieswith one of the trackballs used for controlling three positiondimensions 1201, 1202, 1203 and the second trackball configured tocorrespondingly control the three orientation angles 1211, 1212, 1213.Here the position of mouse body 1400 may be used to control otheraspects of drawing operations.

In another implementation, a touchpad configured for 4-parameteroperation involving two parameters of finger position and two parametersof finger tilt may be combined with a trackball configured for2-parameter operation. In this example, finger position may be used tocontrol two of the position coordinates (for example 1202, 1203), fingertilt may be used to control the orientation angles (1212, 1213)corresponding to these two axes, and the trackball to control theremaining axis (1201) and its corresponding orientation angle (1211). Ifthe configuration includes a mouse body, its position may be used tocontrol other aspects of drawing operations.

In another example, a configuration like that of FIG. 14 d may useleft-fingers/thumb trackball 1465 a to control a first positioncoordinate 1201 and its corresponding orientation angle 1211, theright-fingers/thumb trackball 1465 b to control a second positioncoordinate 1202 and its corresponding orientation angle 1212, and palmtrackball 1465 c to control third position coordinate 1203 and itscorresponding orientation angle 1213.

The invention further provides for a wide range of additional mappingsand geometric metaphors between the user interface sensor geometry andthe three position dimensions 1201, 1202, 1203 and three orientationangles 1211, 1212, 1213 of a 3D object.

 3.9 Multiple Cursors and Cut and Paste Application

The invention additionally provides for a plurality of pairs of userinterface sensor parameters to be used to control the respectivepositions of a corresponding plurality of individual cursors,selections, and/or insertion points. Multiple cursors and associatedoperations of multiple selection and insertion points can have manyapplications. Below, a few of these possibilities that would be apparentto one skilled in the art are showcased in a cut-and-paste editingexample.

Cut, copy, and paste operations using traditional user interface devicesusually involve multiple operations to switch between contextsintroducing considerable overhead as depicted in FIGS. 9 a-9 b and 8.For instance, FIG. 13 a illustrates a text editing example with textdisplay window 1300 involving the selection of a clause 1320(highlighted in this example) with the intention of relocating it to anew position 1351. In such an operation with a traditional 2-parametermouse/trackball/touchpad user interface, the cursor is first used toselect clause 1320 and then used to select the insertion position 1351.

When writing or editing it is often the case that material needs to befetched from elsewhere and put in the spot where one is currentlywriting. Here, the cursor is initially in the spot where the insertionis to occur and the user must then lose the cursor position currentlyset in this spot to go searching and then to select and cut or copy thematerial to be pasted; following this the user must then search again,perhaps taking considerable time, for said initial spot and re-establishthe cursor location there. Equally often there are other situationswhere material must be split up and distributed in a number of far-flungplaces. Here, the cursor is initially in the spot where the material tobe sequentially divided and relocated is originally aggregated; the usermust repeatedly select the portion of the remaining aggregated materialto be relocated and then lose that cursor position to go searching forthe new destination insertion spot, perform the insertion, and thensearch again, perhaps taking considerable time, for the initial spot andre-establish the cursor location there. In both of these cases it wouldbe advantageous if the user could “bookmark” an initial cursor location,search and perform the desired fetch or relocation operations, andreadily return without search to the “bookmarked” location. Althoughthis novel and advantageously valuable capability could be realized witha conventional mouse through context redirection operations involvingthe steps depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9 a-9 b, the present inventionprovides for a wide range of readily realized and easy-to-useimplementations.

The invention may be used in a minimal configuration capable ofinteractively specifying at least two pairs of widely adjustableinteractive parameters. Returning to the specific example associatedwith FIG. 13 a, one pair of parameters is used to set the location offirst cursor 1301 which is used in a selection operation, while thesecond pair of parameters is used to set the location of second cursor1351 which is to be used to independently set an insertion point. Theuser may then perform the cut and paste operation with a single mouseclick, resulting in the outcome depicted in FIG. 13 b. The relocatedtext clause 1320 has been transferred to a position determined by theinsertion cursor 1351 (here shown to the left of the cursor 1351; itcould just as easily be to the right of it), and cursor 1301 used tomake the selection remains in position. Either cursor 1301 or 1351 maynow be moved and/or used for other cut, copy, paste, or (via thekeyboard) new text insertion operations.

Although in this example the two cursor locations were close enough tobe displayed in the same window 1300, the value of this application ofthe invention is significantly increased should the two positions beseparated by many pages, many tens of pages, or even many hundreds ofpages of text. Such situations may be handled by any number ofapproaches as is clear to one skilled in the art. In one approachinvolving a single display window, the area comprising the cursor whosecorresponding user interface sensor was last manipulated is displayed inthe single display window. In another approach involving a singledisplay window, a click event or other user interface stimulus may beused to toggle among the areas comprising the various cursor locations.In yet another approach, at least two windows may be rendered, with oneof the cursors displayed and operable within one window and a secondcursor displayed and operable in a second window.

The invention also provides for these general principles to be appliedto other types of objects and applications, such as spreadsheet cells(involving data, formula objects, and cell formats), graphical objects,electronic CAD diagrams (where objects may be connected with formulas,dynamic models, etc.), and others as will be apparent to one skilled inthe art.

 3.10 Simulation, Processing, and Analysis Applications

Simulation, processing, and analysis applications typically involve alarge number of parameters which are adjusted to model, affect orinvestigate the resulting behaviors, end results, and/or implications.Conventional 2-parameter user interface devices such as amouse/trackball/touchpad require the user to adjust these parameterspairwise (or individually with a knob box as has been done historicallyin some systems) involving complex repetitive passes among high-overheadoperations as depicted in FIGS. 9 a-9 b, for example among steps 901,902, 903. As in the case of 3D object positioning and orientation, thedivision among high-overhead operations, for example moving among steps901, 902, 903, can be functionally disruptive as well as slow andinefficient. The ability to interactively and freely adjust largercollections of parameters simultaneously is thus also of extremely highvalue.

 3.11 Live Signal Processing and Lighting Applications

In artistic performance, composition, and recording applications,control of large numbers of parameters requiring simultaneousinteractive adjustment is common. Conventional recording, mixing, video,and light control consoles typically have large numbers of controls withcarefully designed spatial layouts to facilitate the rapid and preciseadjustment of multiple parameters via knobs, sliders, pushbuttons,toggle switches, etc. The introduction of computer GUIs has addedconsiderable value and new capabilities, including “soft” reconfigurableconsoles and functional assignments, but in the bargain, typicallyencumber users—accustomed to rapid and precise operation of multipleparameters—with a 2-parameter mouse/trackball/touchpad having theoverhead of iterative context-switching operations depicted in FIGS. 8and 9 a-9 b. As in the case of 3D object positioning and orientation,the division among high-overhead operations, for example moving amongsteps 901, 902, 903, can be functionally disruptive as well as slow andinefficient. The ability to interactively freely adjust largercollections of parameters simultaneously is thus also of extremely highvalue.

 3.12 Real-Time Machine Control and Plant Operations

Similarly, real-time machine control and plant (manufacturing, chemical,energy, etc.) operations also traditionally involve controlling asignificant number of parameters requiring simultaneous interactiveadjustment. Conventional real-time machine control and plant operationconsoles typically have large numbers of controls with carefullydesigned spatial layouts to facilitate the rapid and precise adjustmentof multiple parameters via knobs, sliders, pushbuttons, toggle switches,etc. The introduction of computer GUIs can add considerable value andnew capabilities, including “soft” reconfigurable consoles andfunctional assignments, but in the bargain typically significantlyencumber users—accustomed to rapid and precise operation of multipleparameters—with a 2-parameter mouse/trackball/touchpad having theoverhead of iterative context-switching operations depicted in FIGS. 8and 9 a-9 b. As in the case of 3D object positioning/orientation andartistic applications described earlier, the division amonghigh-overhead operations, for example moving among steps 901, 902, 903,can be functionally disruptive as well as slow and inefficient. Theability to interactively freely adjust larger collections of parameterssimultaneously is thus also of extremely high value.

A very few examples of this category of application where the inventionmay be useful include many forms of robotics control, computer-controlmanufacturing tools, industrial optical and electron microscopy, cameracontrol (pan, tilt, zoom, focus, and/or iris), plant process elements(heaters, pumps, values, stirrers, aerators, actuators, activators,etc.), and a wide range of other related and divergent possibilitiesapparent to those skilled in the art.

4. Concluding Remarks

The present invention at its core provides for a wide range of systemsand methods for realizing and applying user interfaces providing, inmany cases, at least four widely variable simultaneously interactivelyadjustable parameters. In so doing, the invention more broadlyencompasses novel user interface structures, metaphors, and applicationsreadily suggested and enabled by the core of the invention but which maybe indeed realized in ways not involving the core of the invention.

While the invention has been described in detail with reference todisclosed embodiments, various modifications within the scope of theinvention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in thistechnological field. It is to be appreciated that features describedwith respect to one embodiment typically may be applied to otherembodiments. Therefore, the invention properly is to be construed withreference to the claims.

1. A user interface device for controlling an external device,comprising: a housing; a sensor arrangement for detecting a positionchange of the user interface device on a surface, wherein the sensorarrangement provides a first pair of signals to indicate changes in theposition of the housing with respect to the surface on which the userinterface device is placed; a joystick comprising at least threeindependent mechanical adjustments, each independent mechanicaladjustment generating an associated signal responsive to the mechanicaladjustment, the resulting at least three associated signals forming aplurality of joystick signals; a communications path to transmit thefirst pair of parameters and the plurality of joystick signals to anexternal device.
 2. The user interface device of claim 1 wherein thefirst pair of signals is for at least controlling the location of acursor displayed on a screen associated with the external device.
 3. Theuser interface device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of joysticksignals is for at least controlling an application executing on theexternal device.
 4. The user interface device of claim 1 wherein thejoystick comprises at least four independent mechanical adjustments,each independent mechanical adjustment generating an associated signalresponsive to the mechanical adjustment, the resulting at least fourassociated signals forming a plurality of joystick signals
 5. The userinterface device of claim 1 wherein the joystick comprises at least fiveindependent mechanical adjustments, each independent mechanicaladjustment generating an associated signal responsive to the mechanicaladjustment, the resulting at least five associated signals forming aplurality of joystick signals
 6. The user interface device of claim 1wherein the joystick comprises at least six independent mechanicaladjustments, each independent mechanical adjustment generating anassociated signal responsive to the mechanical adjustment, the resultingat least six associated signals forming a plurality of joystick signals7. The user interface device of claim 1 further comprises a multiplexerconfigured to multiplex at least the first pair of signals and theplurality of joystick signals into a single multiplexed output signal.8. The user interface device of claim 7 wherein the multiplexed outputsignal is transmitted electrically to the external device.
 9. The userinterface device of claim 7 wherein the multiplexed output signal istransmitted optically to the external device.
 10. The user interfacedevice of claim 7 wherein the multiplexed output signal is transmittedby a wireless link to the external device.
 11. The user interface deviceof claim 1, wherein the user interface device further comprises a visualdisplay attached to the housing.
 12. The user interface device of claim1, the user interface device further provides auditory output.
 13. Theuser interface device of claim 1, wherein the user interface devicefurther comprises a preprocessor.
 14. A user interface device forcontrolling an external device, comprising: a housing; a trackball; asensor arrangement for detecting a position change of the trackball,wherein the sensor arrangement provides a first pair of signals toindicate changes in the position of the trackball; a joystick comprisingat least three independent mechanical adjustments, each independentmechanical adjustment generating an associated signal responsive to themechanical adjustment, the resulting at least three associated signalsforming a plurality of joystick signals; a communications path totransmit the first pair of parameters and the plurality of joysticksignals to an external device.
 15. The user interface device of claim 1wherein the first pair of signals is for at least controlling thelocation of a cursor displayed on a screen associated with the externaldevice.
 16. The user interface device of claim 1 wherein the pluralityof joystick signals is for at least controlling an application executingon the external device.
 17. The user interface device of claim 1 whereinthe joystick comprises at least four independent mechanical adjustments,each independent mechanical adjustment generating an associated signalresponsive to the mechanical adjustment, the resulting at least fourassociated signals forming a plurality of joystick signals
 18. The userinterface device of claim 1 wherein the joystick comprises at least fiveindependent mechanical adjustments, each independent mechanicaladjustment generating an associated signal responsive to the mechanicaladjustment, the resulting at least five associated signals forming aplurality of joystick signals
 19. The user interface device of claim 1wherein the joystick comprises at least six independent mechanicaladjustments, each independent mechanical adjustment generating anassociated signal responsive to the mechanical adjustment, the resultingat least six associated signals forming a plurality of joystick signals20. The user interface device of claim 1 further comprises a multiplexerconfigured to multiplex at least the first pair of signals and theplurality of joystick signals into a single multiplexed output signal.